Liner, dispenser, and closure cover for cigarette packages



Sept. 12, 1950 e. RIOUX 2,522,061

LINER, DISPENSER, AND CLOSURE COVER FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES Filed March 19, 1948 A; IN VEN TOR.

GENE R/OUX,

' TTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1950 LINER, DISPENSER, AND CLOSURE COVER FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES Gene Rioux, Pine Cove, Ontario, Canada Application March 19, 1948, Serial No. 15,894

This invention relates to an improvement in cigarette packages of the conventional shape and size and has for its object the provision of an inner liner embodying means to facilitate the opening of the package, aid in the initial removal of the cigarettes and a closure for the protection of the remaining cigarettes.

' It is an important object of the invention to provide a continuous liner for the ends and sides of the package, with overlapping ends at one inner corner of the package for providing a cutting guide as an aid in the removal of that portion of the package wrapper ordinarily removed by the average smoker, the liner further serving to lend rigidity to the package against crushing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an inner liner for packaged cigarettes,

being continuous and having its free ends over sion of a stiffening liner extending entirely around the inner walls of the package and functioning in the manner hereinbefore stated, with theuppfir portion of liner cemented to the wrapper against accidentalshifting and the closure end provided with a finger nail engaging tab to assist in its removal and further to serve as a limit stop for the reinsertion of the closure end.

Other objects will be readily apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a preferred exemplification of the invention and wherein like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package embodying the invention and in the act of being opened,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package with the wrapper and liner flap partially removed,

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the package, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section through the corner of the package with the wrap- 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-412) 2 per material and liner flap torn away, taken 0 line 4--4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a foreshortened enlarged vertical section through one end of the package, showing the manner of starting the cigarettes,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the liner prior to insertion in the package and,

Figure '7 is a plan view of the liner closure end illustrating the means for facilitating removal and insertion of the closure.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a package of cigarettes of conventional size and shape, having end portions 6, sides I and faces 8 formed by the usual paper wrapper, for enclosing the cigarettes 9. The end portions are folded in the usual manner and one end portion is sealed with the familiar revenue stamp ID. The package is normally wrapped in the conventional cellophane wrapping, not shown and which is usually removed by the smoker prior to the opening.

The liner consists of an elongated strip of relatively heavy material, such as cardboard and indicated generally at l I. The strip is of a width permitting its insertion into the package wrapper and conforms to the inner walls of the package, snugly engaging the sides I, and ends 6, forming a substantial rectangle having sides I2, bottom I3 and a top I4. The free end of one side l2, terminates in a closure and ejecting flap l5,

' bent at a right angle to the side portion and underlying the terminal end of the top portion, indicated at Hi. The terminal end I6 is adapted to be severed upon opening the package and to facilitate its removal, the top portion [4 is perforated entirely across, as indicated at H. The top portion is adapted to be held against shifting in use by cementing it to the wrapper of the package at a point indicated generally at l8. The flap I5 is provided with a finger nail engaging cut l9,

stamped therethrough, as a combined means to assist the user in withdrawing the flap for the removal of a cigarette and as a limit stop to prevent the flap from passing too far beneath the remaining end of the top [4 when the flap is reinserted to covering position.

The package 5, see Figure 1, is provided with an indicating line, with suitable instruction data therebeneath, serving to indicate to the user the line on which the package is to be opened and this indicating line is in direct alignment with the juncton of the bend for the flap l5 and the terminal end of the flap Hi, this junction forming a definite cutting guide for the finger nail or other instrument of the user.

In the use of the device, the liner as it appears in Figure 6 has been inserted in the package at the time it is packed, providing a relatively stiff package against crushing. When it is desired to open the package, the user employs his finger or thumb nail as a cutting instrument, cutting along the line I9, to completely cut the wrapper entirely across. This cutting action is guided by the terminalend I6, as before indicated. The user then grasps the material of the wrapper top 6 and the flap I6, tearing backward and across, as indicated in Figure 2, completely removing the upper corner of the package back to the line of perforations ll, the flap [.6 serving to determine the amount of wrapper to be removed. The removal of the upper corner of the package exposes the closure flap l which, in. this position has its terminal end extended a short distance beneath the remaining portion of the top [4, which is the normal position of the fiap when in the closed, position. The finger nail of the user is then engaged in the cut i9, pulling the flap ['5 backward and upward for exposing the group of the cigarettes in the endv of the package. The engagement of the finger nail in the cut i9, causes the material of the flap to be extended upward, Where it will remain. and servesto limit the sliding movement under the top I 4 when it is reinserted. After the flap I 5 hasbeen moved outwardly, an upper pull thereon will cause the first several rows of cigarettes to be elevated, as-indicated in Figure 5. for facilitating the removal of one or more cigarettes as desired.

Downward pressure of the flap causes. the cigarettes to be again seated as before and the flap is then reinserted under the remaining end, of. the top i4, providing an adequate closure cover for the remaining cigarettes.

It will be seen from the foregoing that. an ex tremely simple and efiicient. liner has been provided for packaged cigarettes. The. liner being. in a single stamped strip extending, entirely around the inside of the package serves to avoid the usual crushing of the package as is so. common. in present day packing. The construction. of the liner with its. overlapping fiapspresents a definite cutting edge for the user and, the perforated end. lfi serves. to determine the proper amount of the wrapper to be torn away, leaving, a relatively neat severed corner to the package. The liner being in one continuous strip will serve as an ejector for the, end. cigarettes by pulling, the. flap l5 upwardly, flexingv the lower portion l3v of the liner. Pressure upon the upper ends of the extended. cigarettes causes the cigarettes.

and the bottom l'3' of the. liner to be again seated in its original position. Thus the flap I5 serves as a most convenient means of ejecting the end cigarettes and also. as a closure cover. The liner will be held against. shifting when the package. is partially empty by the cementing I8 and the side. portion I2 will be limitedin its shifting moveas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A stifiening liner for cigarette package wrappers comprising a one piece strip of relatively stiff material of a width corresponding to the inner thickness of the package and bent to form a substantially rectangular frame extending entirely around the inner circumference of the package, one free end of the strip extending along the top of the package and terminating at; a. top edge of the package and perforated transversely for providing a severable flap, the: other free end extending upwardly along. aside ofv the package and bent inwardly at a right angle andunderlying, the severable flap and. of a length. to project slightly beyond the line of perforations, the terminal end of the severable flap and the. point of bending. of the other free end positioned at the corner of the package and jointly providing a groove and cutting gauge for the wrapper, thev wrapper provided with an indicating line. of cutting in parallelism withv the groove, the upper corner portion of the wrapper adapted to: be. torn away after cutting by removing the. flap and wrapper material simultaneously, the: flap serving to determine the area of wrapper material to be removed for exposing the other freeendof. the liner, said remaining free end of the liner provided. with a preformed tab engageable by the: finger hail of the operator for aid. in withdrawing said. free end for exposing the enclosed. cigarettes, in one end of the package, the said free end and its connected side and bottom portion adapted. to be lifted upward for ejecting a plurality of rows of cigarettes, said free end, side and bottom. adapted to be reseated with the free. end engaging beneathv the remaining, end of thesevered portion. as a closure cover, said remaining end. of thesevered portion. cemented. to the wrapper against shifting, movement.

GENE RIOUXL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in, the.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1,613,173 Kimball Jan. 4, 1927 1,864,871 Straus June 28, 1932' 1,951,343 Butt et a1 Mar. 20, 1934' 2,265,828 Wilson Dec. 9,1941" 

